NFHCA Proudly Announces 2024 NFHCA Division III Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year

Dec 6, 2024 | 2024-2025, Division III, News

Regional Coaching Staff of the Year(3)

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — Six Division III coaching staffs have been recognized as their respective region’s 2024 NFHCA Coaching Staff of the Year. Each of the honorees were selected by a majority vote of their regional colleagues.

Region I

Babson College

Julie Ryan, Lindsey O’Coin, Meghan Evans
  • NEWMAC regular season and tournament champions for the fourth consecutive season, going unbeaten in conference play
  • Ryan and her staff led the Beavers to an overall record of 19-4 and the second round of the NCAA Tournament
  • Tied for first in Division III with 13 shutouts, ranked second nationally in goals against average (0.65) and seventh in scoring average (3.95 goals) while winning at least 19 games for the fifth consecutive season
  • Received NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors for the fourth straight season
  • This is Babson’s fourth consecutive NFHCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award and the seventh in program history

Region II

Tufts University

Tina Mattera, Megan Caveny, Katie Weber, Troy Zirbel
  • NCAA Division III National Runner-Up
  • Ranked second in the NESCAC for lowest goals against average and fourth in the nation for winning percentage (.864)
  • NESCAC champion for the first time since 2016
  • Reached the NCAA Division III Championship Game for the first time since 2018
  • The Jumbos were unbeaten at home (12-0) and had a 13-game winning streak overall that included four straight wins by shootout in the regular-season finale through the NESCAC Tournament.
  • Coached four Jumbos to NFHCA All-Region honors

Region III

SUNY Cortland

Tiffany Hubbard, Sue Carlin, Jessica Welsh
  • Finished the season with an 18-2 overall record and tied for ninth nationally at the NCAA Division III tournament
  • Won third consecutive SUNYAC conference title
  • Finished second nationally in win percentage (.900) and in scoring margin (+3.36 goals per game), fourth nationally in scoring average (4.15 goals per game), and sixth nationally in goals against average (0.79)
  • Had eight student-athletes named to the SUNYAC All-Conference team (including Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year), and won SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year for the second straight season
  • Coached five NFHCA All-Region selections

Region IV

Marywood University (Co-Winner)

Julie Trott and Kaitlyn Bevans
  • Led the Pacers to their second Atlantic East Conference championship and NCAA tournament appearance
  • Had three NFHCA All-Region awardees for the first time in program history
  • Ranked in the top 20 nationally in five categories: penalty corners per game (7th, 12.15); goals per game (9th, 3.81); scoring average (11th, 3.77); points per game (12th, 9.62); and scoring margin (18th, 2.12)
  • Broke the school record with 80 goals on the season

Rowan University (Co-Winner)

Michelle Andre, Danielle Altersitz, Erin Small, and Kristiina Castagnola
  • Team won its fourth consecutive NJAC Championship, as well as clinching its fourth straight conference regular-season title
  • Closed out the year with an 11-game winning streak, that came to an end in the NCAA second round, finishing with a 15-8 record.
  • Head coach Michelle Andre and staff have guided Rowan to six straight NCAA Championship appearances
  • Named the 2024 NJAC Coaching Staff of the Year

Region V

Johns Hopkins University

Jane Wells, James Albanese, Merritt Davis, Britt Walker McNeil
  • Went 19-4 and 9-1 in the Centennial Conference; the sixth straight year with at least 19 wins
  • Led Hopkins to its sixth straight Centennial Conference Championship
  • Guided JHU to its sixth straight NCAA Tournament and sixth straight quarterfinals appearance
  • Set a Centennial Conference record with 47 straight regular season conference wins
  • Coached four NFHCA All-Region and four Centennial Conference honorees

Region VI

Salisbury University

Dawn Chamberlin, Lindsey Barbacow, Brooke Tapman Lohr, and Megan Block
  • Advanced to the NCAA Tournament national semifinals for the 16th time in program history
  • Earned a 30th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance (39th overall)
  • Secured seven NFHCA All-Region selections and garnered eight All-Conference honorees
  • Boasted the Coast-to-Coast Player of the Year (Marli McDorman), and received the Coast-to-Coast Coaching Staff of the Year
  • Ranked sixth in the nation for winning percentage (.850) with a 17-3 overall record

While the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) officially recognizes each institution’s field hockey coaches, the association acknowledges the important work of all staff members who contribute to a program’s success.

The 2024 NFHCA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year will be announced on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at the NFHCA Hall of Fame reception sponsored by AstroTurf® at the 2025 NFHCA Annual Convention.

The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to champion, strengthen, and celebrate field hockey coaches and the game. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.